As legislators in Washington State craft a final budget, it appears that tuition at state colleges and universities will be cut by 5 to 20 percent. The move is almost unique among states. Educators said it was long overdue. Tuition for Washington state-funded higher education has risen 34 percent over the past five years.

How was the tuition drop funded? By closing tax loopholes, including a preferential business and occupation tax for royalty income, and an increase in penalties for late tax payments.

Some parents remember when they earned enough at summer jobs to see them through college without future-mortgaging debts. No more. The children of wealthy parents have always been able to obtain higher education. So have a few very brilliant young people with scholarships.

Surely we know that a broad spectrum of our youth need advanced education if the nation is to succeed economically and socially. One way to do this is to lower costs to levels middle class families can afford.

Someday, it may be possible for students once again to pay all their college tuition with income from summer jobs.